Soul Armor – Part 5

Maybe it should have been a no-brainer, maybe you figured it out years ago, but something was missing in my prayer life. I’m going to omit it from the verses we’ve been considering … and see if you catch it …
 
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, present your requests to God. Philippians 4:6
 
What’s missing? It wasn’t totally missing from my prayer life. I knew God deserved it. I would always try to work it in. I would always come up with something to say … and most of the time I genuinely meant it. It was a habitual section of almost every prayer.
 
That was the issue. It was a section of my prayer life. I had a giant bin of “I need” and a well-considered little basket of “l want.” I was always careful to keep them in that proportion … but they were always full. I’d rummaged around in another cubbyhole to find something to pray for that wasn’t about me … and then I had this little collection of … “it.” It didn’t change much. I would pull out the standard items and hold them up to God and then I’d put them back for the next prayer. “Thank you for my salvation … thank you for my wife … thank you for my health … etc.” Was I thankful? Yes … but thankfulness was not central to my prayer life.
 
That’s where Paul put thankfulness, right in the middle of everything. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, WITH THANKSGIVING, present your requests to God. Do you see how radical that is? Paul doesn’t say (as some prayer models do) “Be sure to devote a portion of your prayer to giving thanks.” No, thanksgiving is integrated into every petition and request. Each one is offered in prayer “with thanksgiving.” (Pause … let that sink in.)
 
Does your heart rebel at finding thankfulness, some reason for gratitude, in every situation? I understand, but be assured, God does not command what is impossible or hurtful for his children. Thanksgiving directed to God in all our requests and petitions carries the promise of divine peace.
 
 

 


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